Product Theater – CIMZIA® (certolizumab pegol): A Different Kind of Anti-TNF for Psoriatic Disease

Featuring Guest Faculty, Robert Casquejo, PA-C

For Saturday morning’s product theater, Robert Casquejo, PA-C, presented information on the medication Cimzia. Cimzia is an FDA approved biologic treatment for adults with moderate to severe psoriasis and for treatment of adults with psoriatic arthritis. Cimzia is an injectable TNF blocker medication. According to Mr. Casquejo, Cimzia has demonstrated efficacy and safety for the treatment for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. While not a goal end point in the pharmaceutical studies, some patients have achieved 100% clearance of their psoriasis. For the treatment of psoriatic arthritis, Cimzia has illustrated clinical improvement including inhibition of radiographic progression of arthritis at 4 years with a consistent safety profile.

While not a goal end point in the pharmaceutical studies, some patients have achieved 100% clearance of their psoriasis.

Mr. Casquejo reported women of childbearing potential represent a specific subpopulation of potentially vulnerable patients. Up to 55% of pregnancies are unintended. For pregnant patients who had their body surface area examined during pregnancy, it has been shown that 55% have no change in their psoriasis, 30% improve and 15% worsen. There is no indication for use of Cimzia during pregnancy and the long-term effects of utero exposure to biologic treatments including Cimzia is unknown. It has been found, however, the ratio of placental transfer of Cimzia to be very low. There is limited data from the pregnancy registry on use of Cimzia in pregnant women which is not sufficient to inform us of risk of major birth defects or other adverse pregnancy outcomes There are currently 54 patients on this pregnancy registry.

Lastly, Cimzia has been effective in patients who have used previous biologic therapy including other TNF blockers. The most common adverse events are upper respiratory tract infections, rash and urinary tract infection. As with all biologic medications, patients who use Cimzia have an increased risk of serious infections. Cimzia is not recommended for treatment in children.